play around vs tinker

play around

verb
  • To work with something in a non-serious manner; to tweak or tinker. 

  • To behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way. 

  • To engage in sexual practices outside of marriage. 

tinker

verb
  • To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner. 

  • To work as a tinker. 

noun
  • A bird, the razor-billed auk. 

  • A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster. 

  • An itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of metal. 

  • The act of repair or invention. 

  • Someone who repairs, or attempts repair, on anything mechanical, or who invents such devices; one who tinkers; a tinkerer. 

  • Any of various fish: chub mackerel, silverside, skate, or young mackerel about two years old. 

How often have the words play around and tinker occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )